A rescued puppy named Bloomingdale poses with a satin bow around her neck, head cocked to the side. Gomez, a boxer/pit bull mix with soulful eyes, sports a red bow tie in his photo, and Leo the Labrador looks ready to party dressed in a feather boa and jester hat.
These charming and funny canine beauty shots and more than a dozen others are posted on the website of North Little Rock-based Rock City Rescue. They were taken by volunteer Melody Allensworth-James to try to get the dogs adopted.
Allensworth-James, a neuroscientist with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, is also a photographer and uses her talents to take fun photos of the animals to help show off their dispositions.
"Melody's photos are incredible," says Casey Carter, the nonprofit animal rescue group's founder. "She has great photography skills and excels in taking photos that show the dogs' personalities. Great photos are really important, especially for our [far-away] adopters ... who aren't able to meet their pups before adopting."
Carter says Allensworth-James also fosters rescued animals, finds people to adopt fostered dogs and cats and helps recruit other fosterers.
"She allowed us to use her home to hold our foster appreciation party, she helps come up with and find props for photo shoots, she helps other fosterers when they have issues with their foster dogs ... . The help she provides is truly immeasurable," Carter adds.
Allensworth-Jones says fostering rescued animals has been a rewarding experience for her and her husband, David.
"We have a plaque on our counter that says 'Saving one dog won't change the world, but for that one dog the world will change forever.' It is a reminder that as one foster leaves -- which can be sad and hard -- there is another we can help. We maintain a revolving door of fosters that way."
The pair currently have four of their own dogs in addition to two foster dogs.
"Our dogs are our children, and we like it that way. They eat healthier than we do," and the couple have shaped their lives around them, she explains. "We jokingly call our house a dog house that our dogs lovingly allow us to live in. We take our four dogs, and sometimes fosters, hiking and camping with us."
Rock City Rescue is an all-volunteer organization, so the work of Allensworth-Jones and others keeps it running.
"We began as a very small group of foster homes throughout Arkansas," Carter says. Last year, she says, the group fostered and found adoptive owners for 165 dogs, cats, a bunny and a bird. They've managed some 31 adoptions already this year.
The group has about 35 or so active volunteers and is always in need of foster families. "We can provide them with everything they need to care for their foster animals -- food, kennels, toys -- but I need [fosterers] to have to good communication skills in order to help us find the best home possible for their foster." Foster families and individuals must also be reliable "since we do have many amazing opportunities for our fosters to bring their foster animals to events and interact with the community."
Those who foster and adopt animals are required to fill out an application and sign a contract that says they agree with Rock City's expectations about how animals are to be treated.
Rock City confers with veterinarians of potential fosterers to make sure their pets are up to date on shots and that they're spayed or neutered. "[We] just want to make sure they're decent pet owners in general." Those who wish to adopt must provide three personal references, the name of their veterinarian and subject themselves to other background checks.
Thinking about adopting an animal? There are things to consider beforehand to make sure the right animal is matched up with the right family.
"Having a pet is an amazing bond," Allensworth-James says. "They love you unconditionally. They are entertaining and always find a way to cheer you up. I cannot imagine my life without dogs." But, she cautions, "Do your research and find a pet that will match your lifestyle." Just because the animal is cute and you have always wanted a certain breed does not mean it is the right pet for your family, she says.
"Any trial and tribulation of having a pet can be worked through if you are willing to make adjustments to your life," she adds. "For example, always put your shoes in the closet or take the expensive Waterford vase off the cat's favorite shelf."
The first Tuesday evening of each month, the rescue organization takes a couple of adoptable dogs to the Blue Canoe Brewing Co. in the River Market District. Twenty percent of proceeds from Blue Canoe Tuesdays are donated to Rock City Rescue. Hollywood Feed in North Little Rock often hosts adoption events for the group, as well.
More information on Rock City Rescue, along with photos of animals available for adoption, are available at at rockcityrescue.org.
High Profile on 03/12/2017